Donald Trump headed to Japan on Monday, the next leg of an Asia tour that could see the US president and China's Xi Jinping end the bruising trade war between the world's largest economies.

Speaking on Air Force One, Trump said he was hopeful of a deal when he sees Xi on Thursday in South Korea, while also indicating he was willing to extend his trip in order to meet North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un.

"I have a lot of respect for President Xi and we are going to I think... come away with a deal," he told reporters en route from Malaysia, where comments from US and Chinese trade negotiators raised hopes of an accord.

Trump was due in Tokyo in time for an evening audience with Japan's emperor.

Dozens of people gathered at Haneda Airport hoping to take photos of Air Force One.

On Tuesday,

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